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Time is not money

viasylvia

Updated: Nov 3, 2024


2018, a post on Philip Grew. The guy I met by coincidence. He is sitting next to me in my airplane to Amsterdam. His profession: Language and computer researcher and teacher at University of Milan. He grew up and has parents living in the US. He needs a connecting flight in Amsterdam.

He speaks many languages. teaching language history, he is specialized in speech patterns. At Milano university this is called linguistic science. He seems to love interaction with other people, in this case that is me.

‘Ah, you have seat number 15. Now we just have to see if we can spot the person who looks like seat number 16 and we have to go up and make room again’ Does he look like number 16 to you? And what about her? Maybe you are lucky. Maybe the KLM has given you an extra chair.’

And so, the conversation began. We went into deep conversation and I learnt from him on the follow aspects I find very intriguing:

He hears Dutch from the pilot giving an update on weather forecast.

Did you hear him in Dutch? Which universal word would you think I have grasped? Which word is common in almost all languages?

I start learning new languages by a proverb (a saying). A saying provokes attention, a saying feels a culture value in countries. If you can learn only one sentence of a strange language, go for a proverb. It gives the most opportunities. You must teach me a saying in Dutch. Maybe…tell me what you grandma used to tell you.

You do know there is no ONE language of anything? You have multiple of any language. Try finding your nuances in your own language. And you can extend.

Try to find your language spot your “taalgevoel” by going into nature, shower, yoga. Somewhere to concentrate without people talking.

Go from you own languages, to more of your own languages, to already known and close language such as German, to more varieties of German (if you have) to English, French to Italian. If Italian is the new language to learn.

He is looking into the KLM magazine:

This is so disappointing. You would expect KLM would give you information on the country. On the town Amsterdam. There is not even a city map in it. They are keeping me ignorant. They have an obligation, you do not think. Being ‘royal’ and such as company to be an ambassador and teach me something about your country.

They are old fashioned. They still believe in the system that the world of today is about money. It is not. Not since we have the Cyberworld. Now. It is about attention.

Time is not money. Because money is not time! Think about it.

There is a natural, a built-up and a cyber environment. Cyber is not real. Yet it exists in our minds, therefore it IS real in that sense.

Government should enforce cultural education to the public, protecting language and diversity of it. Life-long learning concept, interaction with people important for brain and other people’s health – for love and connections, not for money.



Attention is more important, we are already rich. Attention is key. Spend it wisely.



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